One arrested and several others have been identified as the main miscreants who were involved in the violent attack on innocent people during the Friday’s rally in Shillong over unemployment even as Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma assured stern action against them.
Sangma told reporters that he had convened a meeting and reviewed the entire law and order situation in the state. He informed that already one person has been arrested and three FIRs have been lodged in connection with the Friday’s violence.
“Certain people – I don’t want to give numbers – have been identified, who were the main miscreants, who attacked innocent people and necessary action will be taken against them,” Sangma assured.
Stating that three people were injured during the incident, he said they were given necessary treatment but the injuries were not of serious nature.
He further informed that there were about two-three vehicles mostly autos and scooters and one Army Gypsy which were slightly damaged but apart from that there was no major damage to any personal vehicles or any kind of assets of the government.
Further, the chief minister said the meeting also discussed the necessary standard of operations (SOPs) to prevent such incidents in the future.
“We have reviewed the entire situation and we have instructed the police to take necessary action. Also for future situations, the necessary arrangements and necessary SOPs and all the necessary arrangements that need to be made in the future – those areas were also discussed in detail,” he added.
Sangma said that one cannot just come to a conclusion and give the situation a tag name of failure of intelligence. Certain things come out completely as a surprise to everybody, he said.
“In this entire incident that happened there were few selected people who were identified and therefore it could be clearly seen that out of the 1500 plus people who were there, there were very few selected who resorted to this kind of a violent activity and hence, this was something which completely came as a surprise,” he said.
The chief minister said when permissions are being given for holding such programmes, the organizers are expected to follow the process and take a certain level of responsibility.
